Last Saturday was the third Oban sea kayak race. The event kicked off at the Kilbowie outdoor centre, which sits right on the shore in the Sound of Kererra. After a delayed start, due to many of the participants getting caught up in a road closure, boats were duly laid out on the grass for inspection.

Once on the water, the flotilla of fifty boats paraded into Oban bay. It was fantastic to be part of such a big group of kayaks.

Photo courtesy of Graham Milne

In this picture we have just started and are heading for the Sound of Kererra. Conditions are perfect with a northerly wind and no rain.

Photo courtesy of Graham Milne

Crossing Oban Bay

The route is a circumnavigation of the island of Kererra

And this is me, 20km and 2hrs 20minutes later crossing the finish line in Oban Bay

Photo Graham Milne

And here are the race results

I was the first woman to finish in a time of 2hrs 20mins. Previous women’s winning times have been in excess of 2hrs 30mins so I was pretty pleased with my time. Now of course I will have to go back next year and see if I can do better.

The event was very well run, and well supported locally. Local sponsors had covered the running costs so that race entry fees and raffle takings were donated to the Oban lifeboat, about £1500 I believe.

Every year in Salt Lake City Utah the outdoor industry gathers to present their new offerings for the coming year, the designs, colours, innovations and ideas that will influence their product line up.

This year at OR we have a great cross section of offerings, first up, something many of you have been waiting for, our 2nd Generation skeg slider system, with a smoother more intuitive action, these have been in test over last season with Glenmore Lodge and Plas Y Brenin with excellent feedback from coaches and clients.

Also on the P&H stand we have the prototype of the Hammer…

this is the next generation in our Play the Sea category, influenced by the Delphin with some creative new design thinking, white water edges, creek style volume and touring length, there are certainly some refinements to be made but is going to be a really exciting addition to the line up.

Rich Taylor talking to Rapid Media about the new Hammer

For more new and exciting additions to the Pyranha Whitewater Range click HERE